CHAPTER SIX – THE COMPANY SHE KEEPS

On her first day, Nia arrived early, nervous energy thrumming through her veins. She was met by her new coworker, an elderly man with a weathered face and twinkling eyes who introduced himself simply as "Old Man Barnaby." "Come on, rookie," he said with a gravelly chuckle. "Let me show you around this madhouse." As they walked through the massive Colossius Tech headquarters, Nia's eyes widened in awe. The building was a marvel of modern architecture, all sleek lines and gleaming surfaces. Employees hurried about, engrossed in conversations about algorithms and market projections. "This here's the main atrium," Barnaby said, gesturing to a vast open space dominated by a holographic display of the company logo. "We call it the 'Ego Booster' 'cause of how many speeches the bigwigs like to give here." They passed through various departments, each more impressive than the last. The R&D floor was a wonderland of strange prototypes and glowing screens. "Be careful in there," Barnaby warned. "Last week, I nearly got zapped by some contraption they swore was the future of toasters." The executive floor was all polished wood and plush carpets. "That's where the real decisions get made," Barnaby said in a stage whisper. "And where the best gossip comes from. You'd be surprised what people say when they think the cleaning staff can't hear 'em." Finally, they arrived at a small, utilitarian room filled with cleaning supplies. "And this, rookie, is our command center," Barnaby said with a wink. "Not as flashy as the rest, but just as important." As Nia looked around at the mops, buckets, and industrial-strength cleaners, she felt a strange mix of emotions. Part of her felt deflated, realizing this was now her domain. But another part felt a spark of determination. This might not be where she had envisioned herself, but she was going to make the most of it. After her shift, Nia returned to Maria's apartment, her body aching from the unaccustomed physical labor. Maria, ever the supportive friend, immediately sat Nia down and began massaging her shoulders. "So, how was your first day as a sanitation engineer extraordinaire?" Maria asked, working out a particularly tight knot. Nia groaned, both from the pain and the memory of the day. "Exhausting," she admitted. "I've cleaned more toilets today than I have in my entire life." Maria chuckled. "Well, everyone's got to start somewhere. Did you uncover any corporate secrets while scrubbing those high-tech loos?" Nia couldn't help but laugh. "No top-secret plans hidden under the sinks, I'm afraid. But I did learn that the CEO has a fondness for extremely spicy food. The evidence was... unmistakable." "Ew!" Maria exclaimed, giving Nia's shoulder a playful swat. "That's not the kind of insider information I was hoping for!" They both dissolved into giggles, the tension of the day melting away. As their laughter subsided, Maria's voice grew serious. "But really, Nia, how are you feeling about all this?" Nia sighed, considering the question. "Honestly? It's hard. The work is grueling, and it's not exactly fulfilling. But..." she paused, surprising herself with her next words, "I'm grateful. It's a chance, you know? More than anyone else was willing to give me." Maria squeezed her shoulders gently. "That's the spirit. And who knows? Maybe this is just the beginning. You're smart and talented, Nia. Once they see what you're capable of, who knows where you might end up?" Nia smiled, touched by her friend's unwavering support. "Thanks, Maria. I don't know what I'd do without you." "Probably be sleeping on a park bench," Maria teased. "Now, how about some dinner? I picked up your favorite takeout to celebrate your first day." As they settled in to eat, Nia felt a small spark of hope. The road ahead was still long and uncertain, but for the first time in a while, it felt like she was moving forward. A few weeks into her new job, Nia had settled into a routine. She found a strange peace in the repetitive nature of her work, and the early morning shifts meant she often had the building mostly to herself. One morning, she was mopping the floors of one of the main hallways, lost in thought as she hummed along to a piece by Tchaikovsky playing through her earbuds. The swelling crescendo of the "1812 Overture" filled her ears, and she found herself swaying slightly with the music as she worked. The mop became her baton, and the empty hallway her stage as she conducted an imaginary orchestra. So engrossed was she in her private performance that she didn't notice the commotion building behind her until a particularly loud shout broke through her musical reverie. Startled, she pulled out her earbuds and turned to see what was happening. A few meters down the hallway, she saw one of her coworkers, a man she recognized as Greg from the IT department, looming over a young woman. The woman, who Nia thought might be a new intern, was pressed against the wall, her face a mask of fear and discomfort. "Come on, sweetheart," Greg was saying, his voice a sickening mix of cajolery and menace. "Just one drink after work. What's the harm?" "I've already said no," the woman replied, her voice trembling slightly. "Please, just leave me alone." Greg's face darkened. "Don't be like that. I'm just trying to be friendly. You should be flattered." Nia felt her stomach churn. She knew she should stay out of it, keep her head down and just do her job. But as Greg leaned in closer to the frightened woman, something in Nia snapped. "Hey!" she called out, her voice echoing in the empty hallway. "She said no. Back off." Greg whirled around, his face contorting with anger as he saw Nia. "Mind your own business, cleaning lady," he snarled. "This doesn't concern you." Nia stepped closer, her heart pounding but her voice steady. "When I see someone being harassed in my workspace, it becomes my business." Greg's face flushed an ugly shade of red. He stormed towards Nia, leaving the young woman to scurry away. "You've got some nerve," he hissed, towering over Nia. "You're nothing but a glorified maid. I could have you fired with one word to management." Nia stood her ground, even as fear coursed through her. She was about to retort when a commanding voice cut through the tension like a knife. "That's enough, Greg." Nia turned to see a man striding towards them, his presence immediately filling the hallway. He was tall and imposing, with piercing blue eyes and an air of authority that made Greg shrink back. With a jolt of recognition and fear, Nia realized who it was: Leon Allistair, the CEO of Colossius Tech. The man who blamed her for his girlfriend's death. Leon barely spared Greg a glance as he pushed past him, his attention focused solely on Nia. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice softer now but still carrying that note of command. Nia nodded mutely, her heart hammering in her chest. She waited for the moment of recognition, for his face to contort with the same hatred she'd seen in the courtroom. But it never came. Instead, Leon turned back to Greg, his voice cold. "If I ever hear about you harassing another employee again, you'll be out of a job faster than you can blink. Now get out of my sight." Greg scurried away without another word, leaving Nia alone with Leon. She stood frozen, unable to believe what was happening. Leon turned back to her, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "You've got guts," he said, giving her an appraising look. "What's your name?" "N-Nia," she managed to stammer out, trying desperately to keep her voice steady. Leon's smile widened, and there was a playful glint in his eye that made Nia's breath catch. "You're tougher than you look, Nia," he said. "I'll have to keep an eye on you." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Nia standing there, shell-shocked. As soon as Leon was out of sight, Nia's composure crumbled. She rushed to the nearest bathroom, her heart racing and her mind reeling. She barely made it into a stall before her legs gave out, and she sat heavily on the toilet seat, her whole body shaking. Leon Allistair. The man whose life she had inadvertently shattered. The man who had glared at her with such hatred during her trial. He had just saved her from harassment. And worse, he had flirted with her. Nia stared at her reflection in the small mirror on the bathroom stall door, hardly recognizing the pale, wide-eyed woman looking back at her. How had he not recognized her? Was it possible he truly didn't remember her face? The rest of her shift passed in a blur. Nia went through the motions of her work, her mind constantly replaying the encounter with Leon. By the time she clocked out, she felt like she was going to burst if she didn't talk to someone. Instead of heading home, Nia took a taxi straight to Glamour Nails, the salon where Maria worked. She burst through the doors, startling a customer who was examining polish colors. "Is Maria here?" Nia asked breathlessly to the receptionist. "It's an emergency." Moments later, Maria appeared from the back room, her face creased with worry. "Nia? What's wrong?" Without a word, Nia grabbed Maria's arm and pulled her into the employee break room, shutting the door behind them. "Nia, you're scaring me," Maria said, her voice tense. "What happened?" In a rush, Nia recounted the events of the morning – the harassment, her intervention, and Leon's appearance. As she described Leon's failure to recognize her and his subsequent flirtation, Maria's eyes grew wider and wider. "Oh my god," Maria breathed when Nia finally finished. "Nia, this is... this is crazy. Are you okay?" Nia shook her head, feeling tears prick at her eyes. "I don't know," she admitted. "I feel like I'm losing my mind. How could he not recognize me?" Maria pulled Nia into a tight hug. "It's been years," she said softly. "And people see what they expect to see. He wasn't expecting to run into you there." As they pulled apart, Maria's face grew serious. "Nia, maybe... maybe you should consider quitting. This seems really dangerous." Nia felt a flash of panic at the thought. "I can't," she said quickly. "This job... it's all I have right now. And he might not even see me again. It's a huge company." Maria looked unconvinced. "But if he does recognize you..." "I'll keep my head down," Nia insisted. "I'll stay out of his way. It'll be fine." Maria sighed, clearly not happy with Nia's decision but knowing better than to push. "Just... be careful, okay? Promise me you'll be careful." Nia nodded, trying to project more confidence than she felt. "I promise." As she left the salon and headed home, Nia couldn't shake the feeling that her life had just become infinitely more complicated. The job she had seen as a fresh start now felt like a ticking time bomb. But she was determined to make it work. She had to. After all, what other choice did she have?